New Zealand has been in the news lately for all the wrong reasons. Sure, there’s that whole Hobbit thing and how it’s bringing in millions of dollars in revenue every year for the country, but a little Good vs. Evil battle is nothing compared to: DOGS IN AUCKLAND ARE LEARNING HOW TO DRIVE CARS. Smoothly, may I add.

According to KARE 11 in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota (and courtesy of a tip from reader Brent):

After weeks of indoor training on simulators learning how to shift, brake and steer, three shelter dogs actually slipped behind the wheel of a Cooper Mini and hit the road.

Their trainers from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) used a series of instinctive behaviors to teach Monty, Ginny and Porter to operate the vehicle.

The dogs will receive two months of training with help from handlers, and then try their skills solo on a closed test track. (Via)

This can only end well. News footage of cruising canines or it didn’t happen? Here you go:

I’m booking my flight to New Zealand NOW, and when I land, I expect to be picked up a dog chauffeur wearing a hat. I will make the “that was a RUFF flight…the stewardesses didn’t even paws to give me a drink” joke at least 10 times. As with everything in life, I believe The Simpsons said it best: